Trace-carrier.



E. R. HILLS. TRAGE CARRIER. PPLIOATIONVIILED MAR. 18, 1914.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914 ZZjnventor Attornys ELVERT RAY HILLS, OF BEAVER, OKLAHOMA.

TRACE-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. Z9, 31914.

Application led March 18, 1914. Serial No. 825,719.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, ELvEnT R. HILLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver, in the county of Beaver and State of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Trace-Carrier, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to trace carriers, and`aims to provide a novel and improved structure of that character.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a trace carrier of simple, compact, and non-encumbering construction, which will conveniently and eectively accommodate a leather trace or tug, to support the same from the harness of a draft animal, in a desirable and effective manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a trace carrier of unique construction, whereby the same will be peculn iarly and ei'liciently adapted for the pur-y poses for which it is intended.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood.

that changes iny the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a front view of the improved carrier, a portion of the same being broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the device.

The present carrier embodies a body or frame, arranged to receive and clamp a leather trace, the body or frame including a back plate 1 of general elliptical contour, and having the forwardly projecting transversely arranged lugs '2 at its ends forming a transverse slot or channel 3 1n which the trace or tug is adapted to lit snugly. The lugs 2 are provided with forward threaded sockets 4. The body or frame also includes a removable cover or face plate 5 of a contour similar to that of the back plate 1, the face plate 5 having apertures 4 at its ends, through which stud bolts or vother securing members 7 are passed, to

take into the sockets 4: of the lugs 2 for clamping the face plate 5 against the lugs or over the guide slot or channel 3, to retain the trace or tug within the clamp formed by the back and face plates.

The upper lug 2 is provided with an upstandlng ear or lobe S, for pivotally or loosely supporting the clamp 1 5, as will presently appear. In order to support the clamp, there is provided an elongated loop or eye member 9, one side of which is provided with a pair of depending ears or lobes 10 constituting a fork straddling the ear 8 of the clamp. rlhe ears or lobes 10 overlap the sides of the ear 8. The ear 8 of the clamp isv pivoted between the lobes 1Q by means `of a bolt or pivot member 1l en-l gaged through suitable apertures provided with the ears or lobes 8 and 10. The bolt 1l engages loosely through the forward ear or lobe 10 and the ear 8, and threadedly engages the rear ear or lobe 10. It will thus be evident that the clamp will be supported in a pendant or loose condition from the loop or supporting member 9, in order to permit the clamp to oscillate sufficiently, for the freedom of the trace or tug.

In practice, the trace carrier may be supported upon the harness, one at each side of the animal, in any suitable manner, so as t0 accommodate the trace. Thus, the carrier may be supported from the connection between the baekband and crupper of a harness, or may be supported from the breeching. The trace may readily be passed through the clamp, and if necessary or desirable, the face plate 5 may be removed or opened to receive the trace, without threading the trace longitudinally through the clamp. By removing both of the bolts or sei curing members 7, the face plate may be completely removed, while if one of -the bolts lis removed, the face plate 5 may be swung to clear the slot or channel 3 to enable the trace to be placed into or removed from the said slot or channel. lVhen the carrier is supported on the harness, through the medium of the loop or supporting member 9, the clamp will effectively support the trace, and will not permit of the free sliding movement of the trace, but will permit the trace to vibrate or oscillate with the clamp only.

The present carrier will reduce the wear of the trace, and will itself resist wear, it being a common objection to leather trace supports, that they wear out quickly, due to the back and forth sawing of the trace. The

present carrier is also of advantage, inasmuch as it supports the heel portion of the trace, when the trace is detached from the swingletree, to prevent the` heel portion of the trace from dangling onto the heels of the animal, or upon the ground. This also renders unnecessary, the attachment of the heel portions oi' the traces to the breeching or back band of the harness, When the traces are detached from the swingletree.

The back ot' the present carrier is plain and unencumbered, in order to prevent chafing, and the present carrier, as a Whole, is oi' such construction as to render it desirable for the purposes to Which the ldevice `is adapted. It is to be noted that the loop 9 is disposed at right angles to the longitudinal median line of the clamp member l-5, and that the clamp and the loop or supporting member 9 are disposed in the same general plane, whereby the trace may be supported through the medium of the clamp and supporting member, Without subjecting the carrier to excessive lateral strains. The trace lin passing through the slot or opening 3, and resting upon the lower lug 2, Will cause the strain to be transmitted along the common plane of the clamp and supporting y member, at right angles to the pivot 1l. It is to be observed, in this connection, that the clamp and supporting member swing in the common plane of the side parts, which is essential. The ear 8 lies in a plane parallel with and disposed between the planes of the Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

back and face plates of the clamp to the ends above noted, and the loop or supporting member is designed to receive a strap for suspending the same from the harness.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A trace carrier comprising a back plate having lugs at its ends, a face plate detachably secured to said lugs and constituting with the back plate, a clamp, one lug having an ear lying in a plane parallel With the planes ot' the back and face plates, and a supporting member having a depending p0rtion overlapping andpivoted to the said ear.

2. A trace carrier comprising a back plate having lugs at its ends, the lugs having sockets, a tace plate seated against said lugs, and having apertures coperating with said sockets, removable securing members passed through said apertures and removably engaging said sockets, the back and face plates constituting a clamp,` one of said lugs having an ear lying in a plane parallel With and disposed between the planes of the back and face plates, and a loop having a forl at one side arranged to straddle and be pivoted to the said ear.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aliixed my signature in the presence ot' tvvo Witnesses.

ELVER'I RAY HILLS.

Vitnesses i A. OfKENDALL, M. E. CHATHAM.

Washington, D. C. 

